"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
(Luke 2:15). O come, let us adore him
--Christ the Lord!
Who's Poor?
A wealthy man took his son to the country to teach the boy about poor people. They spent several days and nights on the farm of a poor family. When they returned home, the father asked his son, "What do you think now that you've seen how poor people live?"
The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, but they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, but they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants, they grow their own workers. We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have friends to protect them."
The boys's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
While growing up, if my sisters and I behaved rudely at the table, my mom would ask, *Were you born in a barn?*
Too often, rude behavior isn*t restricted to meals. Even adults behave badly toward others, intentionally or unintentionally. Our lack of consideration, good manners and kindness might be likened to the behavior of animals, not guided by concepts of right and wrong.
Jesus was literally born in a barn because we sometimes act like we were born in a barn, failing to put others ahead of ourselves, Through Jesus, God willingly entered the mess and stink of human existence. We know that Jesus can relate to the lowest of human experience because he was laid into a feed trough for animals, surrounded by their sounds and smells, Born alongside us in the *barn* of earthly life, Jesus taught us not only politeness but love.
One day, when I dine with Jesus at the heavenly banquet, I trust Mom will be pleased with my table manners.
